Coal-auger.



No. 653,623. Patented July l0, |900.

.1. H. HIGGINS.

con Auen.

(Application led Sept. 21, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

[31m von loz J. H. HIGGINS.

CUAL AUGER.

(Application Aiiler Sc-aptA 21, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

n wwf@ z- I rlmneus UNITED STATES .IAMS II. HIGGINS, OF WHITWELL, TENNESSEE.

COAL-AUGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patent N o. 653,623, dated July 10, 1900.

Application filed September 21, 1899. Serial No. 731,245. (No model.)

T0 LLZZ whom it naa/y concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Whitwell, in the county of Marion and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal-Angers, of which the following is a specilication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in angers, and relates more particularly to that class known as coalangers.7

The invention relates specifically to that class of coal-angers in which the auger or drill is driven by means of a drive or master wheel which is mounted upon the drive-shaft and engages a pinion rigidly secured upon the chuck which holds the augeror drill; and it has for its object to provide in connection with such mechanism an adjustable breastplate, by means of which the auger or drill may be operated at any desired inclination and the efficiency of the same thereby greatly enhanced.

Briefly described, the invention comprises a frame and driving mechanism for the auger combined with a breastplate which engages the frame of the auger and is adjustable thereon and which carries an adjustable dagger or spear, by means of which the breastplate is retained in the inclined position in which it has been placed.

Various novel features of construction enter into my invention, and in describing the same in det-ail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference will indicate similar parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of myimproved coalauger and adjustable breastplate therefor. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail side view, partly broken away, of the adjustable breastplate and dagger or spear.

Referring now to the drawings by reference-numerals, 1 indicates the main stem of the frame, which has the hollow portion 2 and at its forward end the angularly-extending portion 3, constructed as shown, for the purpose of providing a journal for the shaft of the chuck or auger-holder. At its other or rear end this main stem of the frame is `pro vided with curved prongs or arms 4 4, each of which has a lug 5 on its outer face near the outer ends, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more specilically explained.

The main stem l of the frame is provided, through the hollow portion thereof, near the extension 3 with openings for the reception of the drive-shaft 6, extending outward some distance on each side of the said frame and having mounted on its ends the drive-cranks 7 7, having suitable handles or grips 8 S. These cranks may be secured to the driveshaft 6 by providing the latter with a righthaud thread on one end and a left-hand thread on the other end, so that as the cranks are turned they will tighten thereon, or the cranks maybe keyed upon the shaft or the latter provided with square, Octagon, or other shaped ends which would permit the rigid securing of the cranks thereon. This drive-shaft 6 has mounted thereon bearings 9 9, for which purpose the shaft may be screw-threaded, as at 10, and these bearings may be of cone or other desired shape and are adapted to operate within the openings formed in the frame 1. I preferably make these bearings antifriction by providing the same with an annular seatwhich registers with alike annular seat provided in the wall of the openings through the frame, these two annular seats forming a ball-race for the reception of the antifriction-balls l1. This drive-shaft 6 is provided centrally thereof with a square, Octagon, or other similarshaped shoulder or bushing 12, so as to permit the rigidly mounting thereon of the drive or master wheel. The hub 14 of the master or drive wheel is provided with a central .opening conforming to the style of bushing or shoulder 12 on the shaft 6, which it receives, and the rim 15 of said drive or master wheel is provided throughout its one face with cogs or teeth 16, which are adapted to mesh with and operate the pinion 17, that is mounted on the shaft of the chuck which holds the auger. This chuck 18 has a suitable socket to receive the auger or drill 19 and carries a screw-threaded shaft 20, which is journaled in the forward end of the frame and in the rear part of the extension 3. This extension 3 is provided where it receives this shaft IOO with an annular seat 21 to receive the bearing 22, mounted on the end of said shaft, and between which and the annular seat 2l is interposed suitable antifriction-balls 23. The pinion 17 may be either a bevel or straight toothed one and is formed on its one end with a hub or extension 17', which acts as a bearing for the pinion and engages in an annular seat provided therefor in the frame, suitable antifriction-balls 23 being employed in this bearing, the same as those heretofore described. This pinion may be adjusted upon its shaft by means of the jam-nut 21, mounted upon said shaft, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

The frame and driving mechanism are supported at the rear by a channel-bar 25, the side anges 26 26 of which are each provided with a series of notches 27, which are adapted to receive the lugs 5 5 on the ends of the prongs or arms 4 4. This channel-bar is provided with a centrally-arranged groove 28 on its inner face which is adapted to receive the upper portion of the dagger or spear 29, this dagger or spear being adjustable in said gooove. The bar is provided centrally of this groove with an elongated vertical opening 30 to receive the securing-bolt 31, the head of which engages the rear face of the bar and the threaded end of which passes through the dagger or spear and has mounted thereon a winged nut 32, which tightens the dagger or spear in position. Upon the upper end of the bar is mounted the breastplate 33, which may be concavo in form, as shown, or other suitable shape and suitably padded, so as to rest easily against the operator.

It will be readily observed that the support for the rear of the frame may be inclined and held at the desired inclination by engaging the point of the dagger o1' spear in the slate, and the auger thus operated at the incline as readily and as easily as could be accomplished when the auger is in a perfectly-horizontal position. The support is readily adjustable by changing the lugs 5 5 as desired in the notches 27, the bar 25 being adjustable in its engagement with the frame and the dagger or spear being adjustable in its engagement with said bar.

It will be observed also that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what Iclaiin. as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In acoal-auger, the combination with a frame or stem provided at its outer end with a pair of curved prongs each provided with an outwardly-extending lug, and its inner 6o end formed with an angular extension, of a drive-shaft journaled in the said frame or stem, a crank secured to each end of the said shaft, a drive-wheel mounted upon said shaft,

a shaft 2O journaled in the said angular eX- 65 tension, a pinion mounted on said shaft 20 and engaged by the said drive-wheel, a chuck connected to said shaft 2O and adapted to have secured thereto a drill or au ger, a channel-bar provided with a series of notches 7o adapted to be engaged by the said Iugs of the curved prongs for supporting said stem or frame, and an adjustable dagger connected to said bar and adapted to permit the operation ofthe auger at dilerentinclinations, substantially as described.

2. In a coal-auger, the combination with a hollow frame or stem, provided at its outer end with a pair of curved prongs each having an outwardly-extending lug, and its in- 8o ner end formed with an angularextension, a pair of bearings suitably arranged in the said frame, a drive-shaft journaled in the said bearings, a crank secured to each end of the said shaft, a drive-wheel mounted uponsaid shaft, a bearing 22 arranged in the said angular extension, a shaft 2O journaled at its upper end in said bearing 22 and extending through the said angular extension, a pinion mounted on the said shaft 20 and adapted to 9o be engaged by the said drive-Wheel, a chuck connected to said shaft and having a drill or auger secured to its outer end, a channehbar provided with a series of notches adapted to be engaged by the said lugs of the curved prongs for supporting said stem or frame, a dagger, and means for adjustably securing said dagger to said channel-bar to permit the operation of the auger at different inclinations, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I athx my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES II. HIGGINS.

IOO

Witnesses:

GEO. W. LEWIS, S. S. HARRISON. 

